There are lots of factors to clean up the duct in your house. When ducts are clean, the heating system lasts longer (because there is less dirt wearing its parts), we dust less frequently, and the air we breathe at home is cleaner. For those of us with allergic reactions, this need to be a welcome enhancement.
Probably you don't own a high-powered, truck-mounted vacuum system with 150 foot-hoses; maybe you can't manage the expense of such service. But I am going to tell you how you can clean up duct yourself. Sure, you won't be able to reach every nook and cranny, but you can still remove approximately 85% of the dust in your system without investing any more than the cost of your brand-new heating system filter.
There are several styles of duct systems, such as attic systems and underground systems, however the theory of cleaning these systems is the same. You might not have the ability to access all parts of these systems (for example, underground ducts), however you can make a distinction in your air quality by cleaning the parts of the system that you can reach.
Before we start, take a look at this video of what one of those high-powered, truck-mounted vacuum systems looks like at work on a quite ignored duct system.
2. Turn on fan. You want the fan running while you are cleaning up, to move the dust along that you are going to loosen up with your banging and brushing. Set the thermostat to "fan on," and turned off the "heat/cool" mode so that only the fan is running. If you do not have a fan-only choice, you can run the heat, or you might take this opportunity to set up a newer thermostat with this useful option.
3. Examine filter. Ensure your old furnace filter remains in location, so that the dust you knock loose doesn't wind up getting pulled into the fan motor.
4. Loosen up dust in ducts. Knock loose any buildup of dust in the duct work. Merely take the deal with of your brush and begin tapping on any available duct you have in the basement. This will help separate any deposits of dampened dust that might have stayed with the within the duct.
5. Tidy supply registers. Now air duct cleaning service you can start purging the dust in your supply registers. With the vacuum running and the end of the tube near the register, lift the register. Use the tube to capture any dust that is being pushed out by the fan, and continue to sweep as far into the register's piping as your pipe can reach. Use your brush to scuff loose any constructed up dust in the register.
As you go through your home sweeping out the supply signs up, you can eliminate and dispose of the paper towels you have actually put in location. 6. Clean return air signs up. Purge your return air registers. These will likely be attached with a screw and need your tool to remove them. Once again, brush and sweep as far back into the register piping or cavity as you can. 7. Turn off fan and furnace. Shut the fan off at the thermostat and the power off to the heater through the service switch or breaker panel. Do not just shut down the thermostat, because that does not shut off the power to the unit.
8. Tidy out blower compartment and return air boot. With the power off, you can eliminate the panels on the front of the furnace and gain access to the blower compartment and the return air boot. Use your vacuum to sweep up the dust developed in the blower compartment and return air boot. This is where the terrific bulk of your dust will be. Because you remain in here, you must clean the heater fan also.
Have a look at the in-depth article (with images) I composed, How to Clean a Furnace Fan for a guide on doing this. 9. Change furnace filter. Purchasing a better filter will definitely minimize the dust in your house. However the better the filter, the more often you must change it; an unclean filter restricts the air flow to the fan, which leads to the blower motor running hotter and reducing its life-span. How often you need to change your filter depends upon your house, your pets, and your area.